6 things you're going to miss about summer

. . . wait! Is summer over!?!?

Oh that's right it is for many kids and parents who live in the south. Rumor has it our northern and western friends got the memo about proper school schedules -- School begins the day after Labor Day and ends before Memorial Day -- really it's not that hard, people.

Anyway summer's not over for me yet, since my daughter's a college graduate and my son is in college (Not my circus. Not my monkeys, anymore!)

But I’ll be nice and play along anyway.

1.   Swimming at the outdoor pool. I enjoy swimming for exercise, with this proviso, only if I get the reward of lounging in the sun reading my book afterwards. Hence, indoor pools are not my faves.

2.   When in doubt, grilled hotdogs are a perfectly acceptable dinner. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for boiled or microwaved (at least not in my house).

3.   Flipflops. I really need there to be a winter version of this shoe. Clogs are a pretty good substitute, but they require socks, and remembering to put on socks AND shoes is an awful lot of responsibility.

4.   Walking out the door with only my purse. I know, I know, I shouldn’t complain about having to put on a coat. After all I don’t have to wrangle children who seem to function like octopi in this arena. Still it is nice to just grab the bag (and slip on the flipflops) as I head to the car.

5.   Fresh tomatoes. There is simply nothing as wonderful as a real tomato. Grown in the open air, on a vine until it is ripe. A fresh tomato is the greatest of summer’s gifts!

6.   Late sunsets. I LOVE having the sun with me until 8:00 at night. I like evening walks, and the lovely evening light that continues in the through windows after dinner. I like getting sleepy even though it’s still light outside and know that it’s okay. I really don’t want to go back to 4:30 sunsets.

So there they are. The 6 things I’ll miss about summer. The good news from my house is that I’ve still got several more weeks of summer to enjoy (as God intended!).

(We’re heading out for summer vacation on Saturday, so if it’s quiet here for a bit don’t panic. I’ll be back!)

linking up with Writer’s Workshop

Summer Discoveries

I've lost something this summer. Usually I bounce back from my late spring/early summer blues by this time. It's just not happening this year, and frankly it's beginning to worry me. 

I said something to my daughter about it yesterday, and she reminded me not to feel obligated to explain it. It is what it is. But I can't quite shake that old feeling that if I were a good Christian I wouldn't be feeling this way. 

And that's when I stopped and made a mental list --
:: summer is rife with bad memories for me
:: dh is in grad school and working full time leaving him precious little time for relaxing with me
:: I have 2 friends who are dying of cancer -- imminently 
:: my allergies/asthma are making it practically impossible to enjoy being outside, so no swimming so far this year
:: and not to over share, but I'm going through "the change"

So this morning I'm looking at that list and making a new list. A shorter to-do list that includes some fun stuff for me and a lot more kindness for feeling tired and overheated and a bit breathless this summer. 

Instead of viewing something as lost, I think I'll focus on discovering something new about summer and me.

linking up with Five Minute Friday

Things I've Learned In June

Let's spend some time together today, shall we? Hop on your big yellow bee and let's talk about life! To get things rolling, here's a very exciting picture of myself and a list of things I've learned in June:

As I do not have a yellow bee, I am including the terrible picture of my kids and me from Mother's Day

could we be an goofier!?!

1. Cooking for 4 is very different than cooking for 3. Especially when the additional 1 has been eating crappy college food. My idea of a full refrigerator and pantry is very different than my 19 year old son's. If it's not instant, it's not really food.

2. Crocheting is an acceptable summertime activity if you have horrible allergies/sinus infection that keeps you from going outside for the worst pollen season ever! But it is true, you can watch entire seasons of TV shows on Netflix and never know what the characters look like.

3. Salad, grilled meat of any form, and fresh bread is always appropriate for dinner. Even multiple nights in a row.

4. Poppy seed cake filling is over rated. Made these for dh and he really liked them. Bleh.

5. I don't see enough people in my day to take very exciting photographs. Apparently I need to get out of the house more. (See #3 over at Ostriches)

6. Books I read in high school, college, and early years of marriage, may not be worth re-reading even you get 8 books for $.70 at the used book store. Actually that may be the reason you can get a book for a nickel.

7. Fifty year olds can have a ridiculous amount of fun sorting through Barbie clothes from childhood. Hours and hours of fun as a matter of fact. Taking photos. Determining which are "original" and which were made by moms. Even a 50 year old man can get into the swing of it (if he's a costume designer on the side, anyway.)

8. Discovering Doctor Who with your husband and 23 year old daughter is fun. Not sure how I've missed this, but I'm finding it hard to get through a day without an episode. (unfortunately the 19 year old doesn't understand our addiction -- but he likes Game of Thrones -- ewwww, porn!)

9. Finding the sewing table is very nice, but may not necessarily lead to a significant increase in sewing.

10. June flew by fast. Hope July goes a little slower, but I'm not counting on it.

linking up with CHATTING at the SKY via Ostriches Look Funny and Writer's Workshop

diary of 5

I am seeing... a red cardinal on my lawn chair

I am hearing... birds chirping as I enjoy
the last of the cool morning air

I am smelling... my home -- that
special scent that let's me know
I'm home

I tasted. . . chocolate cupcake ice cream
on date night 
I didn't just taste it,
I devoured it!

I am feeling. . . tired
I slept "hard" last night
and did not want to get up 
this morning.

diary of 5

I am seeing... the sun shining down on my
yard (which needs mowing)

I am hearing... my daughter chatting with the dogs

I am smelling... summertime!

I tasted... pomegranate/cherry yogurt

I am feeling... stunned, but validated

Finding Peace in the Heat -- A Re-post

(this is a repost from 6/2/10)

Everybody looks forward to summer. The lead up to Memorial Day weekend is awash with excitement about the coming weeks of relaxation, sun and fun. I like summer too, but unfortunately my enjoyment is tainted by memories. These are not memories I deliberately dredge up -- they just come with the warming weather, longer days and rising temperatures.Typically when the memories start to invade, I berate myself for dwelling on the past; for not being grateful for all I have and how far I've come; for not depending on God and being "all better".


The fact of the matter is, I was viciously and repeatedly molested as a child, and the vast majority of the abuse occurred in the summer. So while everyone else is excited and looking forward to the new season, my body and mind are gearing up, unconsciously, for what may happen next. Will there be more abuse? How bad will it be this time? Will he/she succeed in killing me this time? I am vulnerable all over again. I know that I won't see those people this summer. I have separated myself from all of my abusers, some by choice, some by geography and some by death (not at my hands), and yet the body remembers. It remembers the pain, the terror, the heat, the sun; leading to old habits of fear, sadness and isolation.


So how do I fight it? Sometimes well, other times not so well. This past weekend brought dreams, pain, sadness and depression. I fell into old traps of blaming myself, denigrating myself, and fearing everyone around me. I saw my therapist yesterday. She reminded me of how far I've come. She told me I was doing well. She told me to be kind to myself. And she told me to remember the good things that have happened in the summer in the years since the abuse ended.


Yesterday I went to the pool for the first time this summer. I swam laps and laid in the sun. I read a paperback novel and talked with an old friend. I had a few moments of feeling "normal", or at least what I think normal feels like. It was good.


I may do it again today.


for more posts go to Write on Edge

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY . . . August 30, 2011

Outside my window. . . it is cool and misty. for the next to the last day of August we are going to be sunny and HOT! A high of 94 is predicted with high pollen counts and poor air quality.

I am thinking. . . it is amazing how much better just talking can make me feel. Dh and I had plenty of time this weekend to talk without interruption. He is such a good sounding board : )

I am thankful. . . to be feeling better both physically and emotionally. Summer is always a difficult time for me, but this year I've noticed it seems to be worse in July and the later into August we get. Now that autumn is coming my mood seems to be improving. Then again it could just be that weekend getaway with dh!

From the learning rooms. . . ds's senior year is off to a great start. He currently has straight A's.

In the kitchen. . . last night we had black bean and chicken quesadillas and watermelon. Tonight is a Shepherd's Skillet and steamed broccoli.

I am wearing . . . lavender yoga pants and a v-neck t-shirt for yoga class.   

I am creating. . . a scarf for a Christmas gift, and still trying to figure out what pattern I want to use for a baby blanket. 

I am going. . . to Restorative Yoga class this morning and then coming home for the rest of the day (I hope).

I am wondering. . . how best to be of service to others while still keeping boundaries regarding my own needs and sensitivities. 

I am reading. . . My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell. Very amusing. 

I am hoping. . . to keep this positive mojo going, and that the new schedule I'm working on will prove to be doable.

I am looking forward to. . . yoga class and the wonderful peace I always feel afterwards. 


I am hearing. . . ds and gf chatting while they eat muffins and bacon before heading out to school.


Around the house. . . I cleaned out the refrigerator yesterday. It's always scary when I find food I have no memory of cooking! I also cleaned out the pantry. Order in the storage areas makes cooking so much easier. 

I am pondering. . . the difficulties I have in enjoying having fun. A recurring them for me has always been to begin to feel fearful once I feel relaxed and happy. This can lead to real confusion regarding my emotions. Choices are often overwhelming, but I am working on learning to face fun and relaxation as positive without the fear of things going downhill. 

One of my favorite things. . . is knowing that people have enjoyed a meal that I have prepared. I enjoy cooking and eating, but it is so much more enjoyable when shared with appreciative eaters. 

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . a low-key week with very few plans away from home. My hope is to get the house in good working order and a dress cut out for myself.


Here is a picture for thought I am sharing. . .

just a couple of dh's wonderful

shots from this past weekend

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